NINE in ten drivers in Spain would fail the current driving theory test if they had to sit it today, a new study has found – with questions on motorcycles and road signs proving the biggest stumbling blocks.

More than 26 million current motorists would fail the exam by making too many mistakes, according to research published by the Linea Directa Foundation.

The study put 1,700 drivers from across Spain through a mock theory test, with participants answering 30 multiple-choice questions.

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Each question had three possible answers, with participants allowed no more than three mistakes across the test.

A meagre 8.1 per cent passed the exam, while 91.9 per cent failed, highlighting widespread gaps in knowledge of current road rules.

Of those who failed, a staggering 16.5 per cent got more than ten questions wrong – equivalent to around 4.7 million drivers.

The results also suggest that knowledge of road rules deteriorates with age.

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Almost 90 per cent of motorists aged 18 to 30 failed the test, rising to 92 per cent among those aged 44 to 55 and more than 94 per cent among drivers over 55.

Questions about motorcycles and mopeds caused the most problems, while road signs were the second-biggest issue.

Around 130 traffic signs have been introduced or updated in the past year alone, underlining how much road rules and signage can change after drivers pass their tests.

Regional differences were also apparent, with the Canary Islands recording the highest failure rate at 95.9 per cent – followed by Extremadura at 95.7 per cent and Aragon at 94.8 per cent.

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Drivers in Galicia, Asturias and Catalunya performed best in comparison, although the study did not reveal their exact failure rates.

The foundation said the results highlighted the need for motorists to refresh their knowledge after passing their driving tests.

According to the report, 82 per cent of drivers obtained their licence more than ten years ago, while 77 per cent had received no further training since qualifying.

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